Electrical connection means



A. L.v MARTINEK ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONVIBANS March 26, 1940.

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Patented Mar. 2s, 1940 UNITED 'STATE s lA-"rsirr ori-ICE .ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Alois L. Martinek, Bronson, Mich., asslgnor to Kingston Products Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation of Indiana f applicati@ Junezl, 1937, serial No. 149,513

4 claim.y (0l. 11a-32s) seat through which terminal receiving means ex` tend for holding and pressing a terminal against said seat. i

Another object of the invention is to form the seat in the shell and the terminal receiving means in such a manner whereby td provide a cylindrical receiving aperture.

AnotheV object of the invention is to provide.

means operatively related to the shell and extending therefrom whereby a conductor 'may be secured thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a durable device which is comprised of very few parts, which may be easily and quickly assembled and manufacturedveconomically on a commercial scale.

Many other objects and advantages of ithe inventlon herein disclosed will be apparent after Figure4 is avertical section of another embodiment of the invention; 4

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figurei;

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on line 8 -6 of Figure 5; Figure 'I is a vertical section of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a section taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 through 3 of the drawing, `I represents a plate of insulating material upon which is mounted the Aelectrical connection means. The electrical connection means is comprised of a metallic shell 2,-.terminal receiving means 3, resilient means l, and an extension 5. The upper extremity 6 of the shell 2 is preferably depressed so as to provide. a semi-cylindrical groove or seat 1 which is yadapted to accommoidate the terminal shown. An aperture 8 prefer- -ably of rectangular formation is provided intermediate the ends ofthe seat 1, and the terminal receiving means 3v extends therethrough translo versely to the seat 1. i

Any form of means may beprovided for pressing and holding a terminal of the character shown against the seat 1, but as here shown, the means preferably employed for this purpose is in the form of an inverted U, comprised of spaced apart legs 9 joined adjacent their upper extremities by a loop portion l0.. Theloop portion iilis preferably -of the same curvature as the seat l so that together they form 'a cylindrical terminal receiving aperture. The loop lli is provided with 'a detent porftion il, adapted to cooperate with the cove I2 in theterminal. The lower extremity of each of the legs 9 is provided with a sectoral flange i3, the purpose of which will appear later. Rotation of the means 3 is prevented since vit extends through the\aperture 8 in the shell.

The resilient means 4, which is inthe form of a. helical compressible spring, is arranged within the confines of the shell 2, and encircles the terminal receiving means 3, with one end engaging the underside of the seat and the other end the flanges I3. Through the agency of this spring, Athe terminal receivingvmeans 3 is normally held in abutting relation with "the extension 5 prior to the insertion of a terminal in the terminal 'receiving' aperture. When a .terminal is being inserted in the terminal receiving aperture, the terminal receiving means 3 is moved outwardly against the' tension of the spring 4, and when the terminal is properly located in the seat 1, the spring will press and draw the spaced apart lands i4 on the terminal against the seat "l, and the-detent Il will hold the terminal in place.

The electrical connection means may be connected to the plate l in different ways, but. asA here shown, the parts are preferably constructed in such a manner that they can be assembled together in only one way.

The extension 5, as here shown, is preferably constructed of sheet metal -iolded back upon itself. and the upper extremity thereof is provided with a pai'r of outwardly extending substantially semi-circular flanges` IB and I6 oppositely arranged in the same plane. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the ange I5 is provided with a relatively small notch I'I, and the flange I6 with a pair of spaced apart notches I8` of a slightly greater circumferential extent than notch I'i. The iianges I5 and I6 are adapted to rest upon the plate I with the extension 5 projecting through a rectangular aperture 24 in the plate I. The lower extremity of extension 5 may be provided with an aperture 25 through which an electrical conductor may be inserted and suitably secured.

The lower extremity of the cylindrical shell 2 is preferably provided with an outwardly extending annular base ange I9. This ange is provided with a small linger or continuation'20, and a pair of larger ngers or continuations 2l, and as clearly shown, these ngers project through the notch I7, and the notches I8, respectively.

The arrangement is such that the notch I1 can only accommodate -the finger 20. Thus, it will be evident that the extension 5 and the shell 2 can only be arranged in one predetermined relation with respect to each other, and that the terminal receiving means 3 is arranged in a predetermined relation With respect to the shell 2. An arcuate aperture 22, and a pair of arcuate apertures 23 are arranged circumferentially about the rectangular aperture 24 in the plate I. The aperture 22 is smaller than either of the apertures 23 so as to accommodate the small finger 20 formed on the shell, and the apertures 23 are adapted to receive the pair of fingers 2I. These ngers are projected through their respective apertures, and are clinched outwardly against the lower surface of the plate I in the manner shown. Since the aperture 22 can only receive the nger 20, the parts can be assembled in only one position upon the plate I.

As above referred to, the shell and the extension can be assembled together in only one relative position, and although this is desirable in most instances, it is to be understood that if found desirable, the lflanges I5 and I 6 adjacent the upper extremity of the extension 5, may be made smaller in size and Without notches so as to t 'within the space dened by the ngers 20 and 2l, in which event the rectangular aperture- 24 will predetermine the position of the extremity 5. In other Words, the particular type of connectior` between the anges I5 and I6 and the ngers 20 and 2l may be omitted. l

Referring to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in' Figures 4 through 6, the arrangement is substantially the same as above described, except that all of the metal parts are-secured together as a unit before assembly with a plate or disc of insulating material.

In this embodiment, the upper extremity of the extension is provided With substantially semicylindrical portions 3I and 32, having notches therein corresponding to those disclosed in Figure 3, and in addition, the portion 3| is provided with a pair of spaced apart notches 33, and theY portion 32 with a notch 34. As clearly shown, the annular baseange adjacent the lower ex- Atremity of the shell is provided with a pair of to be mounted on a plate of insulating material. The annular flange on the shell is also provided with a plurality4 of ngers corresponding to the fingers shown in vIlgure 3, and these fingers are arranged between the ngers 35 and 36, and are projected through apertures provided in the plate after the parts are assembled as a unit as aforesaid. The fingers 35 and 36, as clearly shown in Figure 5, are adapted to rest and bear against the upper surface of the plate or disc.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 7 through 9, the primary object is to omit a separate extension, and provide the shell with an integral extension. shown, the annular flange on the shell 4I is provided with an oiIset depending extension 42 which projects through an aperture 43 provided in the insulating plate 44. The annular flange 40 is also provided with a pair of offset ngers diametrically arranged, which vproject through a pair of apertures 46, diametrically arranged, in the insulating plate 44 and are clinched inwardly against the lower surface of said plate.

' It is to be understood that the metal parts in this embodiment can also be assembled together as a unit as disclosed in Figures 4 through 6.

In view of the-foregoing, it will be evident that an improved electrical connection is provided whereby' to resiliently detachably retain a termidesire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Electrical connection means including inv combination, a support of insulating material provided with an aperture, a shell secured to said support and provided with a concave seat and an opening intermediate the ends of said seat, terminal receiving means extending through said opening transversely to said seat to a position maintaining said receiving means normally open to receive a terminal, resilient means operatively related to said receiving means whereby to press a terminal of the snap type inserted into said receiving means against said seat, means engaging said terminal receiving means and extending through the aperture in said support provid- Ving an extension to which an electrical conducnes of said one member, said other member having a terminal receiving aperture and being slidable in said opening to normally engage said abutment means to maintain said aperture in a As here predetermined position with respect to said bearing surface whereby said member will slide outwardly with respectsto said surfacesolely by the insertion of the terminal within said aperture.

3. Electrical connection means including in combination, a support, a pair -of sheet metal complementary members, and resilient means,

one of said members being xedly secured to said support and hav'ing an opening receiving the other member and an exterior bearing surface for a terminal, abutment means provided on said support within the connes of said one member;`

said other member having a terminal receiving aperture and-being slidable in said opening to normally engage said abutment means to maintain said aperture in a predetermined position with respect to said bearing surface wherebysaid member will slide solely by the insertion of a terminal within said aperture,v said resilient `means acting to returnsaid other member to engage said abutment means upon the removal of said terminal.

`said abutment meansr 4. Electrical connection means including in combination, a plate ofinsulating material, abutment means provided on said plate,y a metal shell having a bearing surface secured to said plate, an aperture provided adjacent said bearing suril'ace, an arched sheet metal member slidably arrangedl in said aperture, said -member having a terminal receiving vopening adjacent its arched end, the length of said member being such that vwhen* said member engages said abutment means said opening is so positioned lwith respect to said bearing surface that when a terminal ofthe plug conductor type is 4inserted into said opening said ancrer. 

